PERRYVILLE, Maryland — A barge struck a key Amtrak rail bridge over the Susquehanna River in Maryland on Saturday afternoon, causing temporary suspension of train service and delays along the busy Northeast Corridor, officials said.
The collision occurred around 2:40 p.m. near Havre de Grace, involving the Susquehanna River Rail Bridge between Perryville and Havre de Grace, according to Amtrak and U.S. Coast Guard reports. Service between Baltimore and Philadelphia was halted while inspectors examined the structure.
Amtrak reported that the incident led to delays of up to two hours for multiple passenger trains. The bridge, a critical link on the Northeast Corridor, carries Amtrak, MARC commuter trains and freight traffic.
A Coast Guard spokesman said the barge struck the wooden skirting around a bridge pier, causing minimal damage. There was no reported damage to the tugboat or injuries.
“Train traffic remained suspended while Amtrak conducted safety inspections,” an Amtrak spokesperson said in a statement. Service resumed later in the evening after structural integrity was verified.
The Northeast Corridor is one of the busiest passenger rail routes in the United States, linking major cities including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. Disruptions on this section often affect thousands of travelers.
Officials have not released details about the barge’s operator or the precise circumstances leading to the collision. Investigations into the cause are ongoing, with federal authorities involved.
The Susquehanna River Rail Bridge is an aging structure that has been the subject of replacement planning. Amtrak has ongoing projects to modernize infrastructure along the corridor, including bridge replacements to improve reliability and support higher speeds.
As of Sunday morning, Amtrak service had returned to normal operations. No further disruptions were reported, though some residual schedule adjustments may have affected Sunday services. Details on any long-term impacts from the incident remained unclear.
